The summer sun still clung to the sky behind scattered clouds as I entered the Starbucks across from the dance studio where I taught. It was the first week of the new dance season, and like many times before, I was headed to the coffee shop for some post-class refreshment.

And a blind date. That’s really why I was there.

The young man sat just inside the door to the left: broad shoulders, dark blonde hair and eyes more blue than I could’ve hoped for. As he stood to shake my hand, I thought to myself, Here we go…

In that moment, I had just met my husband.

Five years doesn’t seem very long, and yet in those five years we’ve finished degrees, gotten married, celebrated three anniversaries, gone on lots of trips, worked together, consumed copious amounts of Chick-Fil-A and Icy’s, endured heartache, laughed and lived life together. For that I am grateful.

I am grateful to my friend who had the courage to listen to what God was telling her and connect the two of us.